First and foremost, we need to ask whether it is ever in society's best interest to have non-state actors increasingly undertake direct and indirect security missions in lieu of states.

In the aftermath of the Blackwater incidents in Iraq, there was a strong argument against the privatisation of military and policing operations by commercial companies. Yet, private military contractors continue to operate in conflict zones around the world and many officials call them essential components to security and commercial operations in destabilised countries....

Finally, we cannot ignore the very real possibility that these surveillance programmes will raise suspicions among foreign government security agencies. Many will be concerned as to whether such activities will be limited solely to their stated purpose. Whether we are talking about anti-poaching programmes in Africa or anti-piracy operations in Southeast Asia, their concerns will be heightened wherever the surveillance overlaps with one of their national interests regardless of who is operating the surveillance platform and with what intent....

Ultimately, the point of raising this inquiry is not to criticise the WWF (and Google) for out-of-the-box thinking on how best to tackle anti-poaching, which is an important issue that should draw more international coverage. Instead, it is to point out that these new types of surveillance programmes raise serious questions that require more consideration by the international community....

With the spotlight now on today’s conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade in Kasane, Botswana conservationists said while that Tuesday’s African Elephant Summit had shown significant progress by some countries, notably African countries to address the elephant crisis, there appeared to be glaring differences in the commitment by others to halt the killing of elephants and illegal ivory trade.

Yesterday, representatives from about 20 countries, gathered to take stock of pledges made by them in December 2013 to put in place urgent measures to save elephants from a crises that sees up to 50,000 elephants a year being poached for their ivory. During the meeting the IUCN said the African elephant population currently stood at 470,000 down from 550,000 in 2006....

"The word 'ivory' rang in the air, was whispered and was sighed. You would think they were praying to it." - British writer Joseph Conrad in the novel Heart of Darkness, known for his nature and existence themes...

Tanzania, one of the world's last great repositories of elephants, has been described as the key battleground. Some 70,000 to 80,000 elephants roam the country's immense sanctuaries, amounting to perhaps a quarter of all African elephants....

Tourists come in their thousands each year to sample our rich wildlife heritage, bringing in the much-needed foreign exchange. We can't, therefore, afford to lose the war.

Colombian conservationists are now returning 149 illegally trafficked animals back into the wild. The animals include 13 mammals like wild cats and Capuchin monkeys, 53 birds, and 83 reptiles. The animals underwent 10 months of rehabilitation. The process of getting the animals ready to be re-released into the wild included surgery to heal skin and plumage. They were also checked for diseases, so that when they would not endanger or infect other members of their species.

Elephant population in the Tanzanian reserve of Selous dropped from 70 000 to 13 000.

Between 420,000 and 650,000 African elephants survive, but more than 100,000 have been killed in the past four years, according to a study published in the US Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.

The African elephant is rated as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature index, while the Asian elephant is rated as “endangered” — a cause of serious concern....

Since its founding in 1998, the Wyss Foundation has been known for its conservation grants, but until recent years, the awards have primarily reflected founder Hansjörg Wyss’ personal experience in the American wilds....

Colombia released 149 trafficked animals back into the wild Amazon on Tuesday after seizing them from animal traffickers. Prior to returning to their natural habitats, the animals — 83 reptiles, 53 birds and 13 mammals including wild cats and Capuchin monkeys — were rehabilitated with some even having undergone surgery to recover skin and plumage, according to the Valle del Cauca department environmental authority.

Twenty-three-year-old Ramesh*, a young engineer from Visakhapatnam, was keen on starting an e-commerce venture. But, instead of approaching a bank for a loan, he opted for an unusual trade — selling sand boas online.

An elephant is killed in Africa every 15 minutes, and since 2002, their population in central Africa has seen a 76 percent decline.

In February 2014, President Obama announced plans to impose a complete ban on the commercial sale of ivory in the United States, part of an executive order against the illegal wildlife trade. Owning ivory would still be OK—assuming it was purchased legally in the first place—but selling the white stuff would be a big no-no, unless it’s a “bona fide antique” of more than 100 years old (a fact sellers would have to prove).

Restrictions on ivory imports took effect immediately, but regulations regarding sales within the United States have yet to be realized, due mostly to administrative delays. The National Rifle Association, however, has been busy fighting state bans and pushing Congress to weaken the proposed rules and roll back the ones already in place. NRDC (disclosure) is concerned that, when issued, the regulations may be weaker than promised. (NRDC advocates are calling attention to the delay by asking supporters to urge the White House to make good on its pledge.)...

A Richmond, B.C. man has been sentenced in federal court to 30 months in prison for smuggling rhinoceros horns, elephant ivory and coral from the United States to Canada.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain ordered Xiao Ju Guan, aka "Tony Guan," 39, to forfeit wildlife items found during a search of his antiques business.

Guan was arrested in March 2014 for his role in smuggling and attempting to smuggle rhinoceros horns, as well as items carved from elephant ivory and coral, from auction houses throughout the United States to Canada....

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 20th March 2015 – Ivory related news dominated headlines in Southeast Asia over recent days as authorities announced the arrest of major players, revealed seizure and prosecution figures and stopped at least one ivory consignment bound for the region.

In Bangkok yesterday, Thai authorities announced the arrest of a 51-year-old Malaysian and a 47-year Thai man in connection with a seizure of 135 kg of African Elephant ivory in Surin province on 31st December, 2014....

Bangkok, Thailand, March 21, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The fight against criminal syndicates and wildlife trafficking was recently propelled into the next generation at a high level Special Investigations Group (SIG) training course held in Cebu, Philippines, thanks to the launch of a cutting edge software platform that enables mobile evidence collection and the digitization of the SIG training material, while allowing data to be shared instantaneously with law enforcement officials in the field.

Black smoke billowed into the air of the Ethiopian capital Friday as 6.1 tons of illegal elephant tusks, ivory trinkets, carvings and various forms of jewelry went up in flames on a wooden pyre. Government officials had started the blaze to discourage poaching and the ivory trade.

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